Exchange Bank and Santa Rosa Chamber Partner to Present "The Anatomy of Gangs in Sonoma County"

Join the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce and Exchange Bank for “The Anatomy of Gangs in Sonoma County,” a spotlight on gang life in Sonoma County, its destructive influence on our quality of life, and various positive alternatives and efforts occurring to address this challenge, being held on Wednesday, May 19 from 11:45am to 2:00pm at Exchange Bank’s Aviation Blvd. facility.

To make a long-term and permanent impact, our community leadership must have a full understanding of the issue – the destructive nature on individuals and the community and the positive alternatives currently making a difference. Today, we have 3,200 registered gang members residing in the North Bay. These men and women are part of organizations that have evolved and infiltrated across all racial, gender, and socio-economic lines. This lunchtime program will look at the anatomy of gangs, their leadership, ideology, recruiting, and operating practices.

Exchange Bank president Bill Schrader remarked, “Gang related activity in Sonoma County represents a destructive threat to our community. While the issues and personalities are certainly disturbing and complex, I view this powerful subject as a leadership challenge and I consider it a call to action for all of us in the public and private sectors. To find solutions we must first come together to understand why and how gangs survive and prosper. From there, we can collaborate in supporting positive alternatives and solutions in a similar manner as we have faced other difficult community-based issues.”

Chamber president Jonathan Coe added, “Gangs are a community challenge and need a response from the entire community. Understanding this challenge is the first step in developing a workable response, and I am pleased that we can come together to develop shared understandings.”

Click here for more information or to RSVP for this no cost lunch program, please call 707.522.2373.